Improvement in letter-envelopes



J. D. MGAENULTY. -Le'ter Envelopes.

\ W`messes: inventor:

.M JWM. Pe my Felon.

`JOHN D. MGANULTY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN LETTER-ENVELOPES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 142,405, dated September 2,1873; application filed May 17, 1873.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN D. MGANULTY, of Brooklyn, inthe county ot' Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Letter-Envelope, of which the following is a specication:

My invention consists of a lock formed in the liaps of a paper envelope by a T-shaped slit in one, and a dovetail-shaped tongue in the other, so contrived that by folding the tongue, inserting it in the slit, and then unT folding it, a practicable lock is formed, which,

` when sealed, cannot be opened without mutilatin g the envelope to suoli extent as to clearly show that it has been opened, and by being looked only will be very serviceable for securing circulars and other matter to be carried in open envelopes, so as to insure it against being lost, and yet so that the envelope can be opened to inspect the contents, as is required by law for circulars. l

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved envelope with one lap opened, and Fig. 2 is a plan view of it with the flaps locked together.

A is the T-shaped slit in one flap, and B is the dovetail-shaped tongue on the other. By folding the tongue on the lines a, Without creasing the paper too much, it can be readily passed through the slit and then spread out rr"- a-gain, as in Fig. 2, in Which position it looks the tlaps, so that Without being sealed the inolosures are in no danger of losing out, and when sealed it cannot be opened and closed again Without exhibiting unmistakable evidence of it.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- An envelope having T-slit A in one flap and tapered tongue B in another, to lock in thc manner described.

JOHN D. MGANULTY.

Witnesses:

T. B. MosHEn., C. SEDGWICK. 

